Tk 1026cr DNCC development project gets ECNEC nod
Seven projects worth
Tk 3,326.50 crore approved
STAFF REPORTER
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved the construction of drains and footpaths along with the improvement of various damaged road infrastructures of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), at an estimated cost of Tk 1,025.87
crore, in a bid to ease traffic congestion and develop an effective road communication network in the capital.
The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city, with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing media-persons after the meeting, planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the ECNEC approved a total of seven projects, with an overall outlay of Tk 3,326.50 crore. Of the total project cost, Tk 2,971.76 crore will come from the state exchequer while Tk 354.74 crore will come from project assistance, he added.
Of the seven approved projects, six are new, while one is a revised project.
The planning minister said the DNCCunder the Local Government Divisionwould implement the project for the construction of drains and footpaths by December 2018.
Of the total project cost of Tk 1,025.87 crore, the government will provide Tk 718.11 crore, while the remaining Tk 307.76 crore will come from the organisations own funds.
The minister said the project aimed to ease traffic congestion, boost road development, remove water-logging and improve the pathways for pedestrians throughout the Dhaka North City Corporation area, encompassing 82.36 sq. km. Under the project, there will be around 204.82 km of road development, construction of some 267.27 km of drains, construction of some 119.27 km of footpaths, relocation of utility lines and other related expenditures.
According to the details project plan (DPP), all the existing roads of the metropolis are not up to the mark and most of the footpaths are not suitable for walking. Besides, owing to inadequate drainage facilities, serious water-logging occurs often after even a little rainfall.
The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities at the meeting to
implement the project much before the
stipulated timeframe to mitigate the sufferings of the citys residents.
The ECNEC meeting also gave its nod to the
recovery of the Buriganga river (New DhaleswariPungliBongshai TuragBuriganga system) (first revised) for Tk 1,125.59 crore.
Sources at the meeting said the Prime Minister directed the authorities to frame a master plan with the joint efforts of the local government and rural development (LGRD) and water resources ministries to maintain the navigability of the rivers, alongside protecting the rivers.
Replying to a question, the minister said the Buriganga recovery project has so far experienced 13 per cent progress. The Prime Minister asked the executing agency to implement the project ahead of the extended timeframe of June 2020.
Besides, she also stressed that industrial waste along with household refuse should not enter the rivers as well as the need to construct an integrated effluent treatment plant to recycle such wastes.
Referring to the approval of the military farm modernisation (first revised) project for Tk 113.64 crore, the Premier asked the executing agency to produce fertilisers from cow-dung as well as go in for producing milk-processed foods while implementing this project.
The ECNEC also approved a project to improve the efficiency of mobile gaming and applications at an estimated cost of Tk 281.97 crore, to be implemented by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Division by December 2017.
Under the project, some eight mobile game and apps development academies would be established at eight areas on the divisional level, mobile game and apps labs set up at local educational institutions in 30 districts, apps testing labs and training points would be set up, mobile game and apps development fostered, along with training and efficiency development, testing and evaluation of online quality assurance as well as creation of employment opportunities in the industrial sector, apart from conducting mass awareness campaigns on mobile games and apps.
The planning minister noted that this sector has huge potential in the country, given the global context.
Ministers and state ministers attended the meeting, while members of the Planning Commission and secretaries of relevant departments were present.
